Vulnerable Adults

1. Vulnerable Adults

2. POVA • Part of the Care Standards Act 2000 • Creates a list of people who are considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults in England and Wales

3. Who is a vulnerable person? • Vulnerable adults are people who are at greater than normal risk of abuse. • MIND MAP: • Who might these people be?

4. Who is a vulnerable adult? • A vulnerable adult is someone aged over 18 who may need services because they are unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against harm or exploitation. They may have a mental or physical disability, an illness or be elderly.

5. Who is a vulnerable adult? • Older people, especially those who are unwell, frail, confused and unable either to stand up for themselves or keep track of their affairs, are vulnerable. • Vulnerability is generally held to refer to those individuals or groups who, due to age, ill-health, infirmity, minority status or their otherwise disempowered position in society may be open to exploitation (whether physical, emotional or psychological)

6. Older People • Older people who are most at risk of abuse at home include: • those who are isolated and don't have much contact with friends, family or neighbours, • people with memory problems or difficulty communicating with others, • people who don't get on with their carer, • those whose carer is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or people whose carer depends on them for a home and financial and emotional support.

7. Other People • Other vulnerable adults include people who are open to abuse because of learning difficulties, physical disabilities or mental illness. • Becoming dependant on someone else, whether a carer, family member, friend or professional health worker (such as a staff member in a residential or nursing home or hospital), can put vulnerable people at risk of abuse. Abusers may create a feeling of dependency and may also make the vulnerable person feel isolated, that nobody else cares for them and that they’re on their own. • Broadly speaking, a vulnerable adult is aged 18 or over, receives or may need community care services because of a disability, age or illness, and who is or may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.

8. What abuse takes place • Five types of elder abuse/neglect- Financial abuse -unauthorised and improper use of funds, property or any other resource of an older person. • - Psychological abuse - persistent use of threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing and other verbal conduct and/or of any other form of mental cruelty. • - Physical abuse - non-accidental infliction of physical force that results in a bodily injury, pain or impairment. • - Sexual abuse - direct or indirect involvement in any form of sexual activity without consent. • - Neglect - repeated deprivation of assistance needed by an older person for important activities of daily living.

9. How are their rights protected? • A safeguard is the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme (DH, 2006), which aims to ensure that people with a track record of poor practice or who are intent on harming vulnerable adults are banned from working in health and social care.

10. Protection of Vulnerable Adults • The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme, as set out in the Care Standards Act 2000, was implemented on a phased basis from 26 July 2004. At the heart of the scheme is the POVA list. • Through referrals to, and checks against the list, care workers who have harmed a vulnerable adult, or placed a vulnerable adult at risk of harm, (whether or not in the course of their employment) will be banned from working in a care position with vulnerable adults. • As a result, the POVA scheme will significantly enhance the level of protection for vulnerable adults. 2.

11. Who does POVA involve? • The POVA scheme is currently implemented with regard to : • care workers employed by registered providers of care homes, • care workers employed by registered providers who carry on domiciliary care agencies, concerned with the provision of personal care in their own homes for persons who by reason of illness, infirmity or disability are unable to provide it for themselves without assistance. • adult placement carers.

12. Key points • set out as part of Care Standards Act 2000 • applies to care workers – both paid and unpaid • protects as it places a duty on employers to refer a care worker to PoVA if by their misconduct they harmed or placed at risk of harm a vulnerable adult

13. Common error • IT IS NOT ABOUT EQUALITY • IT IS ABOUT PROTECTION from harm. • It covers; • Who is suitable to work with vulnerable adults • Who is barred from working with them

14. Systems of redress Systems of redress = systems which help people to obtain justice • Equality and Human Rights Commission • County Court • The European Court of human rights • Employment Tribunal • Help and support can be provided by : • Citizens Advice Bureau • Advocate • Trade union

15. Strengths of POVA • Gives the right to be protected from abuse • Ensures all Staff have a responsibility to report concerns • Ensures that checks are carried out on staff to ensure that they are suitable people • Suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously

16. Weaknesses of POVA • Can’t change people’s attitudes and behaviours • People might be frightened to raise a concern • Difficult to check if it has been followed

17. Rights – learning disabilities

18. Learning disabilities • Those children born to parents with learning disabilities were also more likely to be taken into care, the committee said, despite authorities having to protect their right to a family life unless it would result in a child being put at risk.

19. Extension work • Watch the Winterbourne Care Home documentary on B tube • Revise from your notes on the class DVDs ; ‘Residential Care Home for People who have Learning Difficulties’ and ‘Caring for Mary’ • Revise the ‘Joanne and Rachel’ case study on physical disability